The Gospels · Chapter 19 of 24

Luke 19

Jesus meets Zacchaeus, a rich tax collector who repents and is welcomed as a son of Abraham, declaring he came to seek and save the lost. He tells the parable of the pounds, enters Jerusalem to shouts of praise as King, weeps over the city's coming judgment, and cleanses the temple, teaching there daily as the leaders plot his death.

What happens in Luke 19

In Jericho, the short tax collector Zacchaeus climbs a sycomore to see Jesus, who calls him down and goes to his house. Amid murmurs, Zacchaeus pledges half his goods to the poor and fourfold restitution, and Jesus announces salvation has come, for the Son of man came to seek and save the lost. Nearing Jerusalem, he tells of a nobleman who entrusts pounds to servants and returns to reckon their faithfulness, rewarding the diligent and judging the idle and rebellious.

Then he enters the city on a colt, the disciples praising him as the King who comes in the Lord's name. Rebuked by Pharisees, he says the stones would cry out. Seeing the city, he weeps over its blindness and foretells its destruction. Entering the temple, he drives out the sellers, calling it a house of prayer, and teaches daily as leaders seek to destroy him.

Luke 19 in context

Luke 19 brings the journey narrative to its goal as Jesus enters Jerusalem. Zacchaeus is the last of Luke's beloved outsiders, a living illustration of the mission to seek the lost. The parable of the pounds addresses expectations that the kingdom would appear at once.

The triumphal entry, lament, and temple cleansing open the final week, setting Jesus in direct confrontation with the temple authorities who will engineer his death.

Main themes of Luke 19

Luke 19 (KJV)

1And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. 5And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. 7And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. 8And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. 11And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. 12He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. 14But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. 15And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. 17And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. 18And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. 19And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. 20And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: 21For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. 22And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: 23Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? 24And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. 25(And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) 26For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. 27But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. 28And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem. 29And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, 30Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. 31And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. 32And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. 33And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? 34And they said, The Lord hath need of him. 35And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. 36And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. 37And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; 38Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. 39And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. 41And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 43For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 44And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. 45And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; 46Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. 47And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, 48And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.

Verses to carry from Luke 19

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”Luke 19:10

“Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.”Luke 19:38

“Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.”Luke 19:42

Reflection

Jesus still invites himself into unlikely lives and still weeps over hardened hearts. Where have you kept him at a distance, like the crowd murmuring outside Zacchaeus' door? Welcome him joyfully today, and let him reckon what you are doing with all he has entrusted to you.

A prayer from Luke 19